News
Saakashvili believes border incident was a ‘provocation’
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili explains the deadly incident on the Russian border this week as an attempt at ‘testing the country’s readiness to fight’ and ‘a provocation’. President Saakashvili visited the town Kvareli, which is […]
Democracy groups in Georgia go on the offensive
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian National Platform, a coalition of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), has released a statement regarding the period leading up to the parliamentary election. The National Platform was set up in October 2010 with a goal to support […]
Georgia releases footage of dead Islamist militants
Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgia Interior Ministry released a footage of operation of Georgian special forces against Islamist militants from Russia’s volatile Dagestan republic of North Caucasus, when two Georgian officers and one army doctor died, along with 11 […]
Georgian voters to get political debates
TBILISI, DFWatch – The ruling party says the current parliamentary speaker and the prime minister will represent it in election debates. Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili is the National Movement’s candidate for prime minister in the election. The chair of the public […]
Georgia says border shooting not reason for Russian action
Tbilisi, DFWatch – Georgia says a serious border incident which led to fourteen deaths can not be a reason for Russia to intervene. Despite witness accounts from the Georgian side, Russia’s secret police, the FSB, which also controls the borders, does not confirm that armed groups […]
Two law enforcers, one military doctor and 11 boeviks killed, Georgian officials report
TBILISI, DFWatch – Two members of Georgian Interior Affairs Ministry special unit and one military doctor has died, while eleven saboteurs were killed and 6 are currently surrounded, MIA reported recently. According to Georgian officials all hostages released in the […]
Police operation on Georgia-Russia border
TBILISI, DFWatch – Tuesday night, security forces in Georgia were deployed near the border with Russia after an armed group was spotted in a the area. The Interior Ministry has blocked access to a valley in Kakheti while while the operation is ongoing and all measures […]
Audit body brings up more cases related to ruling party
TBILISI, DFWatch – The audit body in Georgia, which for several months has been busy fining the largest opposition bloc, now wants to fine five persons for donating to the ruling party. In contrast to the opposition related cases, the identity of the people in […]
Audit agency fines pro-government campaign group
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s State Audit Service wants to fine a non-governmental organization (NGO) which supports the government by 5 000 lari, or about USD 3 000. The State Audit Service, which has authority to track the financial relations of political parties and […]
Georgian team in good position despite loss to Netherlands
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s basketball team is in a shared first place in Group D of the qualification for EuroBasket 2013 next to Bosnia-Herzegovina after losing a match against the Netherlands. After three victories in a row, it was the first defeat of Georgia’s Jvarosnebi […]
Village head murdered by friend
TBILISI, DFWatch – The head of a village near Tbilisi has been shot to death. A friend of the victim has admitted to have carried out the crime. The body was found in a forest Monday morning. The suspect says he was drunk and had a quarrel with the victim. After […]
Ivanishvili may hold referendum about parliamentary republic
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of the largest opposition bloc in Georgia doesn’t exclude that if he wins the parliamentary election he will hold a referendum regarding government structure. Currently, the president holds almost all power. From 2013 these powers will […]
Two on trial for deadly chlorine leak
TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court today held a pre-trial hearing on in the case of two persons accused of being responsible for a chlorine leak in Tbilisi July 3, which resulted in the death of one person and tens of injured. A water company claims that its supplier of chorine, […]
Forest fire in Borjomi
TBILISI, DFWatch – About one acre of forest burned as a result of a fire in Borjomi, a resort town in eastern Georgia. The fire started yesterday afternoon and wasn’t put out until Monday morning. What caused the fire is not yet known, but the reason might have been […]
Bollywood returns to Georgia to film medieval drama
TBILISI, DFWatch – A second Bollywood film is being filmed in Georgia on the initiative of Georgia’s National Investment Agency. The film tells a story set in Georgia in the Middle Ages. Indian actors and actresses play the roles of a Georgian king and other characters. […]
Assessment of the election campaign so far
TBILISI, DFWatch – The international community has begun to assess the election period in Georgia. Their comments focuse on the government’s fining of Georgian Dream coalition members and seizing their bank accounts. As they see it, such actions restrict […]
Eleven parties and blocs agree to campaign financing
TBILISI, DFWatch – Eleven party lists and coalitions have agreed to election campaign financing. Central Election Commission informs that Freedom to Way of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Georgian Dasi, Free Georgia, New Rights Party, Christian Democrats, People’s […]
Archaeologists in Georgia discover graves from 3rd century BC
TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia, archeologists have discovered burial chamber from the third or fourth century BC. The discovery was made during sewage work. The qvevri burial place lies in Kaspi, a small town 48 km away from the capital Tbilisi. The online newspaper […]
Georgia wins basketball match against Latvia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s national basketball team won against Latvia on August 24, strengthening its position in the qualification for the European championship next year. The match ended 79:76, which puts Georgia at the top of Group D. The qualification match […]
Pro-democracy group: violations are harming the election process
TBILISI, DFWatch – An American pro-democracy group says it’s questionable whether there is rule of law in Georgia. The non-government organization (NGO) Committee for Open Democracy said at a press conference on Friday that the organization will have 20 observers […]
Thornike Gordadze becomes Minister for Euro-integration
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister has become State Minister for Euro-integration. Thornike Gordadze replaced Giorgi Baramidze, former minister for Euro-integration, who left the position in order to participate in the upcoming parliamentary […]
OSCE calls on South Ossetia to not demolish Georgian villages
TBILISI, DFWatch – OSCE’s High Commissioner on National Minorities asks the de facto leadership of Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia to explain what a statement about demolishing Georgian villages means. Leonid Tibilov, de facto president of South Ossetia, […]
Former AC Milan player Kaladze denied to book Tbilisi stadium
TBILISI, DFWatch – Former AC Milan player who left football to go into politics was planning to hold a friendship match with Milan in Georgia as a symbol of him leaving, but Georgia refused to make a stadium available for the match. Kakhi Kaladze, who now is a partner […]
Saakahsvili to deal with problems in the election environment
TBILISI, DFWatch – A spokesperson for President Mikheil Saakahsvili says the president is thankful to a delegation from OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly which recently criticized conditions here before the election. The experts visited Georgia in order to the study the […]
Israel recognizes Georgia’s ‘neutral’ passports
TBILISI, DFWatch – Israel has recognized Georgia’s so-called neutral travel documents, according to the ministry on reintegration issues. Neutral travel document and neutral ID are a system for issuing passports and identity documents to the population of Abkhazia and […]
Georgian government responds to criticism
TBILISI, DFWatch – The government in Georgia claims the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly is spreading incorrect information provided by lobbyists of a certain party. A delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on Thursday released a statement […]
Observers say Georgia’s election campaign has signs of Leninism
TBILISI, DFWatch – A delegation from the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) which is in Georgia to observe the election says Georgia’s law enforcement bodies lack objectivity. The observers mainly criticize the State Audit Office, saying they act on the basis […]
ODIHR arrives in Georgia to observe the election
TBILISI, DFWatch – Observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) are now in place in Tbilisi and have started monitoring events leading in preparation for the parliamentary election. ODIHR will publish its final report two months […]
Claims procedures against opposition parties delayed
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s National Enforcement Bureau postponed the enforcement of fines that have been issued to political parties which are members of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition. June 27, seven political subjects in the coalition were were fined […]
Investigative journalist beaten during assignment
TBILISI, DFWatch – A journalist and a cameraman were beaten while investigating the illegal cutting of trees in eastern Georgia. Journalists Vasil Dabrundashvili and his cameraman Bacho Buliskeria, who work for the production company Studio GNS, visited the town Akhmeta […]
Government claims opposition is trying to discredit authorities
TBILISI, DFWatch – The government in Georgia accuses the opposition bloc Georgian Dream of attempting to discredit government bodies. Two officials in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly expressed concern about the seizing of bank accounts of parties […]
SGS to monitor goods across Russia-Georgia border
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Swiss company SGS will monitor the movement of goods on Russian-Georgian border from September 1, 2012. November 9, 2011, the governments of Georgia and Russia signed a deal which paved the way for Russia’s WTO membership, with Switzerland as […]
Saakashvili reaching out to Georgian youth
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says the ruling party will have several 21 year-old candidates on their list for the upcoming parliament elections. Saakashvili today met students who have a summer job in the small Black Sea coastal town […]
Georgia wins qualifying match against Bosnia-Herzegovina
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s national basketball team yesterday defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina in a qualification match for Eurobasket 2013. The final score was 96:95. Georgia started first round with significant advantages scoring 20 points, but the opposing team […]
Cartu Bank fined USD 12 million
TBILISI, DFWatch – A Georgian bank affiliated with the largest opposition bloc has been fined with USD 11 609 500 by the National Enforcement Bureau. The reason Cartu Bank, which is facing a series of problems after businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili decided to enter […]
CoE expresses concern about campaign finance measures
Two officials in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in a new statement express concern about how Georgia’s authorities are enforcing a set of new tough campaign finance rules. The regulations were ushered in late in 2011, after the appearance […]
Ivanishvili announces his candidacy for prime minister
TBILISI, DFWatch – Opposition businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is challenging Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia’s October 1 parliamentary election, has announced himself as candidate for prime minister. The announcement comes one day after Saakashvili’s National […]
Cleanup work starts in villages, as new storm hits Rustavi
TBILISI, DFWatch – Another cleanup effort has started in villages in the east of the former Soviet republic of Georgia following another hailstorm. Meanwhile, people reeling from the losses after the last storm, which caused massive damage. Thousands of houses were […]
Saakashvili says his PM will continue after October 1
TBILISI, DFWatch – The government in Georgia has placed the speaker of parliament on the top of its party list, which probably means he will keep his post if they win. It also said the current prime minister is their prime minister candidate after the election. […]
Opposition bloc in Georgia signs code of conduct
TBILISI, DFWatch – The largest opposition bloc in Georgia has decided to join the code of conduct for political parties. The rules were the brainchild of the campaign This Affects You Too, and the 17-point document outlines rules of conduct for political parties […]
Forest fire in eastern Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – 15 acres of forest has burned down in eastern Georgia despite two days of attempts at extinguishing it. The fire occurred in the village Artana, which is 21 km from Telavi, the largest city in the Kakheti region. Beech, hornbeam and chestnut trees […]
Georgian Dream denied to use number 7 on the ballot
TBILISI, DFWatch – The largest opposition bloc in Georgia was denied to register under the number seven on the ballot in the upcoming parliamentary election. Representatives of the Georgian Dream coalition say that they have asked the Central Election Commission […]
Georgian opposition has run out of cash
TBILISI, DFWatch – Nodar Khaduri from the opposition Georgian Dream says the coalition doesn’t have money, because the government seized the party’s accounts. He calls on the population to donate to Georgian Dream, only to not give money, but posters and t-shirts with […]
Girl to swim across the Dardanelles with hands and feet tied
A 17 year old Georgian girl plans to swim across the Dardanelles with her hands and feet tied on August 30, the ten year anniversary of Henry Kuprashvili carrying out the feat in 2002, setting a Guinness record. Kuprashvili is the girl’s instructor. This style of […]
Another hailstorm wipes out crops in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Another storm hit the former Soviet republic of Georgia Sunday in what has become the most stormy year in recent memory. The storm completely or partly destroyed the harvest in villages in a number of regions in the east of the country. Sunday […]
Georgia’s opposition bloc has exceeded its fundraising limit
TBILISI, DFWatch – The largest opposition coalition in Georgia will no longer be allowed to receive donations from persons who partly or fully receive financing from its leader Bidzina Ivanishvili or companies related to him. The State Audit Office informs that […]
Political parties agree to rules of conduct
TBILISI, DFWatch – Political parties in Georgia are ready to agree with rules of conduct prepared by the campaign This Affects You Too intended to secure a peaceful, fair and competitive electoral environment before the October 1 parliamentary election. The ruling […]
OSCE tops arrive in Georgia to discuss October election
TBILISI, DFWatch – Riccardo Migliori, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will arrive in Georgia for the election period, together with a delegation from the OSCE. According to parliament’s press office, the delegation will arrive on August 19 and hold […]
Government commission warns against local transgressions
TBILISI, DFWatch – The inter-agency commission tasked with monitoring the election process calls on local governments not to place party symbols in their offices, as this is a violation of law. Tamar Kintsurashvili, a member of the commission, said on Monday […]
Man sentenced to 20 days in jail for beating cameraman
TBILISI, DFWatch – Police have arrested a man accused of beating a cameraman working for an opposition affiliated media outlet. The man has been sentenced to twenty days in jail. The incident took place August 15 in front of the municipality building in […]
Busy season for Georgia’s mountain rescue workers
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian rescue workers have conducted three separated operations to save foreign climbers stuck in the Georgian mountains. One Russian climber slipped when he was going out of his tent. He fell down from the cliff and died. The other two in his […]
Oldest basilica church yet discovered in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian archeologists have discovered ruins a basilica type three-nave church from the fifth or sixth century in eastern Georgia. The ruins cover an area 40 meter long and 16 meter wide, and were found in Kakheti, on the right bank of River Duruji, […]
Ivanishvili formally applies for arbitration with government
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of the largest opposition coalition in Georgia has asked to launch an arbitration case with the Georgian state at the World Bank. On August 15, the 14-day term ended for the government to admit it committed illegalities and to achieve […]
Georgia notes growing trade deficit
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s trade deficit continued to increase from January to July 2012, but the country’s foreign trade turnover increased by 18 percent compared to last year and amounted to USD 5 761 million. Georgia’s national statistics department GeoStat […]
Opposition group opens branch office in tent
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Dream coalition Thursday opened a tent in the Samtskhe Javakheti region, because the locals refused to let them rent an office. The coalition has had problems with rent offices before. It blames the government, saying it does not […]
Georgian Dream names candidates to Adjarian council
TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition Georgian Dream coalition continues to name its majoritarian. This time the candidates for the High Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. The nominees are mathematician Amiran Mamuladze in Khulo, doctor […]
Info9 cameraman beaten by local official
TBILISI, DFWatch – A cameraman for an opposition affiliated media outlet was today beaten by a local employee of Lanchkhuti town. His camera was broken in the incident. It happened while a journalist and a cameraman from info9 were standing outside the […]
Foreign investments in Georgia grew 37 % in 2011
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s National Statistics Department GeoStat says direct foreign investments grew 37 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. The total amount of direct foreign investments last year was USD 1 117 million. According to GeoStat, direct foreign […]
Ivanishvili names Irakli Alasania as candidate for Samegrelo
TBILISI, DFWatch - Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian president’s main competitor, plans to win in the western Samegrelo region by having the country's former UN ambassador run there. The region borders on Russian controlled Abkhazia and is that part of the country where Mikheil Saakashvili’s government has the largest influence. Bidzina Ivanishvili named Irakli Alasania as majoritarian [...]
Georgian opposition asks world to react to election violations
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Dream, the strongest competitor to the party of Presidential Mikheil Saakashvili, calls on foreign diplomats and international organizations in Tbilisi to react ‘correctly and adequately’ regarding ongoing political processes in Georgia. […]
Ombudsman wants better protection against confiscation
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Public Defender requests to give the owners of confiscated property the right to appeal the seizure. The current Criminal Procedure Code does not allow someone to appeal such action by authorities. The ombudsman’s office now says that […]
Georgia’s ruling party concealing commercials as public ads
TBILISI, DFWatch – A new report concludes that some of the public service ads in Georgia contain a political message. The report is based on observation of several TV stations and shows that public service ads don’t meets the standards and are in reality covert […]
Ivanishvhili and Kaladze lost their appeal
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Appeals Court in Tbilisi rejected an appeal by the leader of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition and a former AC Milan player. This means that the decision by Tbilisi City Court to fine them stands. Bidzina Ivanishvili was fined USD 12.3 […]
Athlete to sue Georgia’s Olympic delegation for harassment
TBILISI, DFWatch – A Georgian athlete has returned to London after a dramatic escape, in order to sue his country’s Olympic delegation, saying he has become a victim of “politicized sport”. Betkil Shukvani, a 23 year old Georgian sportsman, was defeated by […]
Georgia compensates storm victims – one month late
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government has started paying compensation to people affected by a hailstorm almost a month ago. People in about 40 villages lost their harvest, livestock, a majority of houses are roofless or totally destroyed. Today, local media […]
Georgian Dream lacks permission for Rustavi rally
TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition party Georgian Dream continues to run into trouble about the location for its rallies around the country. This time a rally is planned for Rustavi, a town 20 km south of the capital, but city hall turned down the application to use […]
Almost 200 000 households can watch government-critical TV
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) Monday published data about the implementation of the must-carry and must-offer principles. 193 642 subscribers are now able to watch Channel 9, an opposition affiliated TV channel, which was […]
Energy and finance get new ministers in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Two ministers have been changed after the new Georgian government was approved. No reason was given for suddenly making the energy minister finance minister, and the head of the local government committee of parliament, energy minister. Prime […]
Kaladze and Ivanishvili may pay new fines to help storm victims
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition and his partner, a former AC Milan player, are ready to give more money to the state to assist people who suffered losses due to a hailstorm on July 19. The storm seriously damaged villages in […]
Georgia took seven medals at London Olympics
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia took seven medals as the London Olympics drew to an end; one in Judo and six medals in wrestling. 35 Georgian athletes competed in this year’s Olympics, winning one gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Lasha Shavdatuashvili, a 20 year […]
Senator Richard Lugar gets new lab named after him in Tbilisi
TBILISI, DFWatch – The United States will make a significant emphasis on monitoring the election campaign in Georgia, and pay special attention to observing the vote counting process after the election. This is according to a statement by Irakli Alasania, […]
Plan for Georgian election observers still pending
TBILISI, DFWatch – It is still unknown when international observers will start monitoring the election in Georgia. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 1, but long-term observsers have not yet arrived in the country. Local rights groups have for months […]
EU concerned about Medvedev’s Tskhinvali visit
TBILISI, DFWatch – Philip Dimitrov, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, expressed concern about a recent visit by Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Tskhinvali. Medvedev visited Tskhinvali on August 8, on the fourth anniversary of the […]
Ivanishvili hit by new USD 12 mill fine
TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court once more issued a fine to Saakashvili’s main competitor Bidzina Ivanishvi. The case was brought by the State Audit Office, which accused the businessman of illegally donating to his own party and fined him 20 243 827 lari, […]
Former AC Milan player Kakhi Kaladze fined USD 10 million
TBILISI, DFWatch – A well-known football player who left his career to join the opposition Georgian Dream coalition was on Friday fined 17 million lari for not doing as he was told by the State Audit Office. Kakhi Kaladze’s property was also seized, but he doesn’t […]
Ancient military wall unearthed in Tbilisi
TBILISI, DFWatch – An ancient wall has been discovered during rehabilitation works in the center of Tbilisi. The oldest layer of the fence dates back to the fifth century C.E., but the castle fragments, which are perfectly retained, were built between the twelfth […]
16 people fined for illegal campaign donations
TBILISI, DFWatch – 16 Georgians have been fined by Tbilisi City Court for donating money to an opposition party. The court fined supporters of Georgian Dream five times the amount they had donated. Among those fined are the director of Cartu Bank and 7 employees who […]
Journalist stalkers in Georgia continue unhindered
TBILISI, DFWatch – For more than a month, journalists with an opposition-leaning news service in Georgia have been followed around by a group of unknown people while trying to do their work. The stalkers carry cameras and microphones, but do not appear to have an […]
Georgia’s small broadcasters protest strict campaign rules
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) claims that broadcasters will be forced to air free political commercials, even if they don’t air paid commercials. Regional broadcasters say it is an incorrect interpretation of the law, which will […]
Seizure continues against staff of Ivanishvili linked bank
TBILISI, DFWatch – The bank accounts of the director and seven employees of Cartu Bank were seized today. The bank is known as being connected to the opposition Georgian Dream bloc. Nodar Javakhishvili today told journalists that the seizure has connection to a […]
Audit office wants to know opposition leader’s spending
TBILISI, DFWatch – The financial monitoring service of Georgia’s state audit office accuses Bidzina Ivanishvili and his partner, a former professional football player, of withdrawing money from their own accounts, and calls on both of them to return the money to […]
One unquoted word created crisis in Georgian media
TBILISI, DFWatch – A report sent out by a Georgian news agency led to controversy Tuesday. GHN’s report said that after Russia became involved in the war in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008, it legally brought military equipment into the region. This report was read […]
2008 war remembered in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Commemoration events will be held during a whole week in Georgia to pay tribute to victims of Russian-Georgian war in 2008. 370 people died as a result of the five-day war. 190 of them were civilians, 169 soldiers and 14 policemen, three journalists […]
War refugees chased TV team out of village
TBILISI, DFWatch – Refugees from the 2008 Russia-Georgia war forced a journalist from Maestro TV to leave their settlement by throwing stones at her. Khurvaleti is a small village in Gori municipality, where there are cottages for refugees from the Tskhinvali war four […]
Takeover of Ivanishvili company runs its course
TBILISI, DFWatch – A lawyer for a company affiliated with the largest opposition bloc in Georgia has been sentenced to twenty days administrative detention for resisting police. His lawyers say Tbilisi City Court’s decision was illegal and are going to appeal. […]
Russian climbers rescued after two day search
TBILISI, DFWatch – Four Russian climbers have been rescued from Svaneti, a mountain region north in Georgia adjacent to the greater Caucasus range. The four were found after a two days search, in an area cut off by a rockslide. One of the climbers had injured a leg, […]
Fuel prices go up 2 % in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Prices for all types of fuel have gone up 5 tetri in Georgia, which is a two percent rise. The Oil Product Import Union explained the price rise with increased burning of fuel in summer, which always increases the prices of oil products internationally. Earlier, the […]
Former member of Georgian parliament murdered in Minsk
TBILISI, DFWatch – The former member of the Georgian parliament and mafia boss Bondo Shalikian has been shot and killed in Minsk, Belarus. According to Belarusian police, the murder took place in the night of August 7. Investigators in Belarus are working from […]
Four years since the war between Russia and Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Four years after the war between Russia and Georgia, which led to hundreds of deaths, occupation of Georgian lands and Russia’s recognition of two separatist regions, flags are lowered on all government buildings. Davit Bakradze, Speaker of […]
Speaker of Parliament is abusing his position
TBILISI, DFWatch – Now that the date of Georgia’s parliamentary elections has been set to October 1, political parties are under certain restrictions set by law, that last until Election Day. One restriction is that it is prohibited to use administrative resources for campaigning. […]
Georgians get more TV channels, temporarily
TBILISI, DFWatch – The must-carry and must-offer principle is starting to have effect also around Georgia’s different regions. People living in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city after the capital, report that they are already able to watch Channel 9, Maestro and Kavkazia […]
Groups call for improved consumer protection
TBILISI, DFWatch – Groups in Georgia are concerned that a number of legislative changes will worsen the situation in regards to food safety and consumer rights. Seven non-governmental organizations working on these issues and two independent experts today […]
More visitors to Georgia, but are they tourists?
TBILISI, DFWatch – The monthly number of visitors to Georgia continues to increase. The small country noted a 54 percent growth of visitors during the first seven months of 2012, compared to the same period last year. 2 211 201 foreigners visited Georgia in this […]
3.6 million voters will decide election in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – There are 3 621 256 voters in Georgia, according to Central Election Commission’s (CEC) preliminary data, which was published today. According to the CEC, there are 84 election districts in the country. The majority of voters,155 502, are from […]
EU commits aid to storm victims in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – The European Union is to help families affected by the July 19 storm in Georgia which levelled more than 40 villages. More than 20 000 families were affected by the storm, which hit the south east part of Georgia. People lost their houses, […]
Who is to blame for election violence in Georgia?
TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia, the government’s main competitor, Georgian Dream, claims that they support fair and free elections and accuses the government of attempting to provoke civil confrontation. Georgian Dream released this statement on Monday as a response […]
A historic first: A Georgian newspaper fined for libel
TBILISI, DFWatch – The popular newspaper Alia, which has been published in Georgia since 1995, has been fined about USD 30 000 for libel against a well-known actor. The newspaper printed an article which accused actor Otar Koberidze, a favorite of President Mikheil […]
Ivanishvili linked property sold at an auction
TBILISI, DFWatch – A company connected to the largest opposition bloc in Georgia has had its property sold at a public auction. Meanwhile, the National Enforcement Bureau is replacing the company’s management. Burji Ltd, which has links to billionaire Bidzina […]
Ivanishvili gathers 20 000 supporters in Batumi
TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition Georgian Dream coalition Sunday continued showing off its support with a massive rally in Batumi, a port on the Black Sea coast. About 20 000 people gathered in front of the stage. ‘Let Saakashvili see how many of us are here’, […]
Temporary regulations affects Georgian banking sector
TBILISI, DFWatch – A new report shows that legislative changes ushered in by the Georgian government to counter the influence of an opposition billionaire has hampered the bank sector. The report shows that new legislation about banks, tax and the executive made […]
Opposition athlete stopped on the way to rally
TBILISI, DFWatch – Police have taken possession of a car belonging to Zurab Zviadauri, a Georgian who won gold in judo in the 2008 Olympics and now is a supporter of the opposition. Zviadauri was stopped yesterday while on his way to Batumi to attend Sunday’s mass […]
Price fixing in Georgian food and fuel market
TBILISI, DFWatch – A new survey says that the fuel and food market in Georgia is an oligopoly. The new study presented by Transparency International Georgia (TI) on August 3 is called ‘Competition Policy in Georgia’ and deals with the fuel and food market segments. […]
Seized property sold at public auction
TBILISI, DFWatch – An auction is in progress to sell property seized from 17 people who donated money to political parties. A land plot with a dwelling belonging to Giga Bukia, a member of the Georgian Dream coalition, has already been sold. The State Audit Service […]
Iran suspends visa freedom agreement with Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Iran is suspending the agreement with Georgia about visa free travel in connection with a conference of the Non-Aligned Movement. Georgian citizens who wish to travel to Iran from August 5 to September 1 will need a visa. Georgia’s Foreign Affairs […]
Policeman threatens cousin with gun over politics
TBILISI, DFWatch – A police employee threatened his cousin with a gun because he was a member of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition. Georgian Dream representatives told DF Watch that the incident took place in the village Orulu near the town Zugdidi in the […]
Saakashvili supporters prevent Ivanishvili from addressing crowd
TBILISI, DFWatch – Activists for the governing party Saturday prevented President Saakashvili’s main opponent, Bidzina Ivanishvili, from meeting with the population in a small mountain village in the Adjara region, in the southwest of Georgia. Journalists are reporting […]
Must-carry law goes into force in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saturday morning the deadline passed for when cable companies in Georgia will have to transmit three small government-critical TV channels which for years have been unable to reach a broader audience, because cable networks have kept them off. […]
Georgian Olympic athlete let down due to opposition sympathies
TBILISI, DFWatch – A Georgian athlete says he might have been subject to political harassment at the London Olympics. July 28, the Georgian sportsman Betkil Shukvani lost against an Australian in a judo match and then unexpectedly left the Olympics […]
Another prisoner dies in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – The prison ministry on Thursday reported that a prisoner has died at No 18 hospital. According to the ministry, the prisoner was convicted on June 19, 2012, for possession and sale of drugs. The cause of death is given as heart attack, the most […]
Polling institute’s bank accounts seized
TBILISI, DFWatch – By decision of Tbilisi City Court the bank accounts of Georgian Development Research Institutes (GDRI) were seized. The leadership of the organization doesn’t know the reason, but suspect that it is because of a donation from Bidzina Ivanishvili. […]
Election campaign starts in Georgia, with strict rules
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia will hold parliamentary elections on October 1. The announcement marks the beginning of the election campaign and political parties are now subject to a special set of rules. Whereas, the Georgian constitution says that parliamentary […]
Georgia’s voters roll is still source of controversy
TBILISI, DFWatch – 291 471 voters registered in Georgia are currently living abroad, while 26 000 are dead. These are the main corrections which the state commission working with the voter’s lists have found by going door-to-door and checking 3 483 142 voters. […]
Ivanishvili to start arbitration with government
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s potential nemesis, the businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, has lodged a an arbitration case against the Georgian government. Maia Panjikidze, spokesperson for Georgian Dream coalition, said at a briefing Wednesday that the law […]
Media demonstrated outside Saakashvili’s palace
TBILISI, DFWatch – A rally was held Wednesday outside President Mikheil Saakashvili’s residence in protest against the seizure of thousands of satellite dishes which prevents Georgians from seeing government-critical channels. The president’s residence […]
Georgia sets date for parliamentary election
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia will hold parliamentary elections on October 1, 2012. Manana Manjgalade, spokesperson for President Mikheil Saakashvili, said this at a briefing on Wednesday. She said the president is sure that the October elections will be yet another […]
Bank account frozen because of opposition sympathies
TBILISI, DFWatch – Another opposition sympathizer in Georgia has had his bank account frozen. By decision of Tbilisi City Court, all bank accounts belonging to former Deputy Security Minister Lasha Natsvlishvili were seized. Currently, Natsvlishvili is not a member […]
Doubts about media diversity law in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Media organizations, cable operator companies, non-government organizations and the National Communication Commission (GNCC ) sat down together on Monday to discuss details and issues about the implementation of the must-carry and […]
Fatal car crash allegedly involving president’s escort
TBILISI, DFWatch – Witnesses say one of President Saakashvili’s escort cars was involved in a car accident on the highway near Gori, which left a driver of another car dead and four others injured. Witnesses say one of the president’s escort cars crashed into […]
Government took millions in loans while running Cartu Bank
TBILISI, DFWatch – While the opposition affiliated Cartu Bank was temporarily under state management recently, USD 50 million was taken in loans. The bank, which is associated with President Saakashvili’s main competitor Bidzina Ivanishvili, plans to go to court […]
Bushfire in Vashlovani National Park
TBILISI, DFWatch – A fire in Georgia has burned down more than one thousand hectares of land in the eastern Vashlovani National Park. The environment minister said the reason for the fire, which started on Monday at about 17:00, was negligence. It has now been […]
Former AC Milan player Kakhi Kaladze denied appeal hearing
TBILISI, DFWatch – The former footballer, now opposition campaigner Kakhi Kaladze has been deprived of the right to appeal the seizure of his bank accounts. This news was relayed by Shalva Tadumadze, a lawyer for the former AC Milan player. Tbilisi City Court […]
Opposition activists accuse bank of tampering with accounts
TBILISI, DFWatch – A member of the Georgian Dream coalition’s campaign team Monday started a rally in front of Bank of Georgia in Lanchkhuti, a small town in the western Guria region. Shota Pirtskhalaishvili is one of over twenty opposition campaigners who claim that […]
Channel 9 journalist blackmailed
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Ombudsman says the blackmailing of a journalist working for the opposition affiliated Channel 9 TV contains the signs of a crime. Journalist Nodar Chachua, who used to work for one of the three pro-government channels, says he was […]
Secrets revealed of how Georgia’s political police operates
TBILISI, DFWatch – A memory card belonging to a policeman in a small village has been presented by an organization which says it reveals how authorities are systematically monitoring people’s political sympathies. The memory card belongs to Shmagi Uratadze, who works […]
Georgia nationalizes geological information
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian state takes over ownership of information about fossil and mineral resources in the country. Before, this information was the private property of the company that did the geological survey. The government explains this with a need […]
Most Georgian illegals abroad won’t be able to vote
TBILISI, DFWatch – Most Georgians who live illegally abroad may not be able to vote in the upcoming elections, after Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister made the rules for qualifying as a voter stricter. There are no precise data about Georgian citizens living illegally abroad, […]
Georgia loses 17th soldier in Afghanistan
TBILISI, DFWatch –Georgia has lost its 17th soldier in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The Georgian Defense Ministry informs that Givi Pantsulaia, born in 1984, died Saturday at Gori Military Hospital. “Corporal Givi Pantsuala received injuries […]
Georgians subject to human trafficking in Turkey
TBILISI, DFWatch – 22 Georgians have become victim of human trafficking in Turkey. Georgian media reports that Lasha Navareli, a mediator, promised the men, who are from the village Alaverdi near Zestaponi, that they would be employed in Turkey with a salary […]
London Olympics noted Georgian athletes as born in Russia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Organizers of the London Olympics have stepped into a diplomatic minefield after mistakenly referring to two athletes born in Georgian breakaway republics as Russians. On the official website of the London Olympics, Deni Tsargushi is described […]
Burjanadze supporter released after 16 hours questioning
TBILISI, DFWatch – A former public servant who joined an opposition party was released later Friday evening. The Interior Minister said that Zaza Sopromadze was not arrested, but was only called in to the Prosecutor’s Office as a witness. Police came […]
Kakhi Kaladze’s appeal fast-tracked
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian professional footballer who ended his career to join politics has appealed the seizure of his bank accounts. But the appeals court says it will process the appeal “without an oral hearing”, which means that there will not be a […]
Prisoners to go on hunger strike before election
TBILISI, DFWatch – Human rights campaigners in Georgia are organizing a hungerstrike among prisoners in connection with the election for parliament. Organizers are the groups ‘Political Prisoners against the Dictate of Five’, ‘For Protection of Human Rights’ […]
Burjanadze supporter detained by police
TBILISI, DFWatch – A supporter of a former government top who is now in the opposition was arrested Friday morning. For unknown reasons, Interior Ministry gave explanations for the arrest instead of Prosecutor’s office. Those two are different bodies, […]
Construction of new parliament halted due to strike
TBILISI, DFWatch – Construction workers rallied in Kutaisi today at the site of the new parliament building they have been employed with constructing, demanding to get paid. The workers refuse to work until they get their salaries, which they claim they haven’t been […]
Kakhi Kaladze’s bank accounts seized
TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court accuses a former football player turned opposition activist of money laundering and has seized his bank accounts. Maia Panjikidze, spokesperson for Georgian Dream, said that leveling such accusations against Kakhi Kaladze, […]
Ivanishvili given back control over shares in Cartu and Progress
TBILISI, DFWatch – A bank director in Georgia who authorities removed from his job will get his old job back. This follows from a decision to revoke the seizure of all 100 percent shares in Cartu Group and 22 percent of Progress Bank, effective Thursday […]
GeoStat notes increasing foreign trade
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s National Statistics Department notes growth in the country’s foreign trade turnover in the first half of 2012. Growth is 17 percent more than the same period in 2011 and equals USD 4 866 million. Georgia is importing more than […]
Media send second appeal for Maestro’s satellite dishes
TBILISI, DFWatch – Media workers in Georgia Thursday delivered another appeal to the Chief Prosecutor’s office, asking to revoke the seizure of satellite dishes belonging to Maestro TV. The campaign first appealed to the prosecutor on July 23. This time, […]
Budget cuts passed to free money for disaster aid
TBILISI, DFWatch – A bill to amend the 2012 budget to free money for cleanup work and compensation after a storm July 19 has been passed by parliament in Georgia. The total size of the budget, more than 7 billion lari, has not been changed. Instead, money has […]
Ruling party ex-MP vows objectivity as audit service head
TBILISI, DFWatch – A former high-ranking member of parliament who was appointed new head of the audit service promises that he will be fair, independent, professional and objective. Lasha Tordia was appointed to the position after the former head, Levan Bezhashvili, left […]
Details of emergency funds spending presented
TBILISI, DFWatch – “Everything which is not secret, is public”. This is how the Georgian finance minister answers the opposition, who demand to know what the reserve funds have been spent on. The two reserve funds, one controlled by the government and the other by […]
Communications commission is violating the law
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s National Communications Commission (GNCC) is violating a recently amended law obliging it to inform the public as well as cable companies and TV channels directly, within one week of the must-carry and must-offer principles coming […]
‘Dish protest’ in front of parliament
TBILISI, DFWatch – Media workers and others demonstrated in front of the old parliament in Tbilisi Wednesday in support of Maestro TV. They demanded the immediate return of equipment seized from the company. The crowd held real and symbolic satellite […]
Woman dragged away from cameras and locked in a cellar
TBILISI, DFWatch – An elderly woman who tried to approach President Saakashvili to tell him about her family’s problems, ended up being dragged away from the TV cameras and locked in a cellar Tuesday. The incident happened in Tsaishi, a village near […]
Ivanishvili pays state USD 48 mill to help storm victims
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s main competitor Bidzina Ivanisvhili yesterday gave 80 million lari to the state. This is about USD 48 million. He says the government has denied him of all other ways to help the disaster struck population, and therefore he decided […]
Georgian audit service gets new director
TBILISI, DFWatch – The head of parliament’s committee on human rights will replace the head of the audit service. Davit Bakradze, Speaker of Parliament, announced the decision Tuesday during a visit to Abasha, small town in the Samegrelo region. The audit service […]
Georgian Dream demands more transparency in crisis funds
TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia, the main opposition bloc Georgian Dream accuses the government of having recklessly spent the state reserve funds, set apart to handle disasters. According to law, the two crisis funds, one controlled by the government and […]
Georgian Dream supports non-use of violence declaration
TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition Georgian Dream coalition is ready to join a declaration asking for a competitive, fair and peaceful election. Maia Panjikidze, spokesperson for the coalition, said Monday that the coalition supports a document published July 16 […]
More equipment seized from Maestro TV
TBILISI, DFWatch – More of Maestro’s satellite equipment was seized yesterday by police on the Georgian border, the company’s director informs. Ilia Kikabidze, General Director of Maestro TV, today said at a press conference that three cars were seized yesterday, […]
Georgia starts negotiations with EU about visa free travel
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia has started negotiations with the EU about liberalization of visa rules. Today, the EU Commission’s Director General for Development met the Georgian deputy foreign minister in Brussels. According to Georgia’s foreign ministry, […]
TV studio robbed, suspects political reasons
TBILISI, DFWatch – An independent TV studio in Georgia had its offices robbed, and suspects political reasons. Studio Monitor, which makes investigative reports for Maestro TV, was subject to a break-in on July 22. Its main work deals with producing […]
Ivanishvili once more offers to help storm victims
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s main competitor Bidzina Ivanishvili says he does not trust the government’s official data about the amount of losses due to an extreme storm on July 19. Ivanishvili says his opposition Georgian Dream coalition is […]
Saakashvili uses state coffers to repair storm damage
TBILISI, DFWatch – The government in Georgia has set aside 162 million lari to deal with the losses because of last week’s storm. The money is to be taken from other parts of the state budget. Finance Minister Dimitry Gvindadze explains that a special fund […]
The head of Georgia’s audit service resigns
TBILISI, DFWatch – The head of Georgia’s audit service today resigned in order to help people affected by the storm in Kakheti last week. Levan Bezhashvili has held the position since 2008. Monday, he announced his decision to resign, on the fifth day […]
Media campaign in support of Maestro TV
TBILISI, DFWatch – Media in Georgia have launched a campaign in support of TV company Maestro, which had thousands of satellite dishes seized by authorities. Ilia Kikabidze, general director of Maestro TV, Lasha Tughushi, editor in chief of newspaper […]
One arrested as Ivanishvili visits disaster area
TBILISI, DFWatch – Police in Georgia has arrested one member of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition after he hit a female employee of the local government in Gurjaani, a town in eastern Georgia which was hit by a storm. Information Center Kakheti reports that […]
Increasing oil import to Georgia due to tourism
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia increased its import of oil by 8.5 percent in the first half of 2012 compared to last year and is now at 378 323 764 kg. Analysts say the increasing import is related to larger numbers of tourists visiting the country. The figure was […]
Government goes outside to help in cleanup work
TBILISI, DFWatch – The entire cabinet in Georgia is personally taking part in cleanup work in villages affected by hail storm on July 19. In around 40 villages that were hit, 2 200 houses were left roofless, according to local government. Some villages are […]
Media workers gather in support of Maestro TV
TBILISI, DFWatch – 20 media outlets in Georgia gathered today at Tbilisi Marriott Hotel to discuss the recent seizure of satellite dishes belonging to Maestro TV. The media workers consider the prosecutor office’s action illegal and appeal to both the government […]
How storm wrecked havoc in eastern Georgia
GURJAANI, DFWatch – There are no windows left in the Salimov family house. Their bread bakery has collapsed together with the pantry. Everything that is wet has been taken outside in the sun to dry, while a giant walnut tree has fallen down and wrecked havoc […]
Ivanishvili offers to cover population’s losses after storm
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s main competitor, who accuses the government of abusing the legal system to intervene in his party’s election campaign, offers the government 10 million lari, or USD 6.1 million, as assistance to people affected by the recent storm. […]
Non-use of violence declaration expanded
TBILISI, DFWatch – The government in Georgia will add points prepared by non-government organizations to the declaration of acting regulations for elections. But it is still unknown whether Georgian Dream will join this declaration or not. Even though […]
Government rules out extending media diversity law
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government does not intend to change its position in regards of to implementing the must-carry and must-offer principles. This means that it does not go along with the recommendation of foreign ambassadors in Georgia. These asked […]
Ivanishvili offers to help flood victims, Saakashvili considers
Georgia’s Speaker of Parliament says the prime minister should decide whether opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili may be allowed to help reimburse losses suffered after yesterday’s storm. Ivanishvili’s opposition Georgian Dream coalition has offered to help […]
Tbilisi death jumpers used car safety belt, likely cause
TBILISI, DFWatch – The inquest into the death of a 23 year old woman and a 25 year old man after a rope jump from a bridge in Tbilisi is not yet finished, but there are indications that what caused the tragedy was the use of a provisional mechanism involving […]
Georgian opposition announces candidates for Tbilisi
TBILISI, DFWatch – Bidzina Ivanishvili Thursday announced the names of all ten majoritarian candidates for Tbilisi and several candidates in the regions. This time his opposition Georgian Dream coalition brings forth many popular names. Some of the candidates […]
Livestock killed by storm in eastern Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia was hit by a storm Thursday that killed livestock and injured eighteen people and caused flooding in the capital. Local media in the eastern region of Kakheti report that heavy rain was followed by a hail storm, causing difficulties […]
Opposition activists fined USD 200 000
TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court Wednesday fined six representatives of the main opposition movement USD 200 000 for donating money to their own political movement, Georgian Dream. The court made its decision under mediation of the State Audit Service, which […]
Diplomatic pressure to extend must-carry beyond election
TBILISI, DFWatch – A working group of ambassadors in Georgia calls on the government to extend the term of the temporary must-carry and must-offer principles to beyond election day. UNDP on Wednesday released a statement after the meeting of the working group […]
Georgia sees 8 percent growth so far in ’12
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s GDP grew 1.3 percent in second quarter of 2012, compared to the first quarter and is now at 8.1 percent, according to official statistics. Georgia’s National Statistics Department points out that these are preliminary figures, […]
Russia responds to Georgian human rights comment
TBILISI, DFWatch – Moscow suggests that Tbilisi solves its own problems with democracy and human rights, before giving advise to Russia about saving democracy. This is a statement of Alexander Lukashevich, spokesperson for the Russian Federation’s Foreign […]
Georgian Dream names 12 more candidates for parliament
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s main competitor Bidzina Ivanishvili has named 12 more majoritarian candidates to stand for election from regions outside of Tbilisi. The Georgian Dream coalition has until now named 40 majoritarian candidates. The rest, including […]
Skadden to represent Ivanishvili
TBILISI, DFWatch – The international law firm Skadden is going to represent the Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in his struggle as opposition politician. Yesterday, he met David Herlihy, head of Skadden’s London office and Gregory Craig, head […]
Police in Georgia seize 8 000 satellite dishes
TBILISI, DFWatch – Another eight thousand satellite dishes belonging to Maestro TV has been seized by the police. The seizure comes in addition to an action by the prosecutor’s office on July 11, when tens of thousands of satellite dishes were seized from Maestro. […]
Three opposition activists arrested
TBILISI, DFWatch – Three Georgian Dream activists were arrested July 16 on suspicion of bribery. According to the Justice Ministry, one of the suspects, Merab Kachakhidze, transferred 7 000 lari to the chair of the Conservative party’s branch in Mtatsminda […]
Russian general says bases guarantee stability in Caucasus
TBILISI, DFWatch – A Russian general says there won’t be another war with Georgia, thanks to military bases stationed in the two breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “There will not take place a recurrence of conflict in the Caucasus,” said Vladimir […]
Surveys differing wildly ahead of Georgian election
TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition Georgian Dream party does not trust the results of a survey conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which shows that the governing party of President Saakashvili has twice as much support as Georgian Dream. […]
Ivanishvili’s dolphinarium taken over in Batumi
TBILISI, DFWatch – Batumi City Council has replaced the director of the local dolphinarium after security guards entered the facility Monday. The dolphinarium in Batumi was reopened on the initiative of the local government after 20 years of non-functioning. This […]
Media in Georgia demonstrated for the right to information
TBILISI, DFWatch – Media workers in Georgia demonstrated Monday in support of a TV company. They were protesting the seizure of thousands by the Ministry of Justice of satellite dishes belonging to TV company Maestro. The background is a marketing push by […]
Georgia moved de facto border some hundred meters
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia June 29 moved a police checkpoint a few hundred meters into Russian-controlled territory in the South Ossetian breakaway region. The EU has been mediating talks on the ensuing controversy. The checkpoint was moved from the village Mereti […]
Georgian opposition is closing the gap on Saakashvili
TBILISI, DFWatch – A new poll shows that the opposition Georgian Dream movement has nearly doubled its support in the last six months. But it still has a long way to go to match the ruling National Movement party, if the poll is correct. The ruling party has […]
Two die in rope jumping accident in Tbilisi
TBILISI, DFWatch – A 23-year old woman and a 25-year old man died in a rope jumping accident in Tbilisi on Sunday. The two jumped together from a bridge. The woman, Mariam Kandashvili, died on the spot, while the man, Goga Goletiani, was taken to hospital, […]
Government proposes non-use of violence in election campaign
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government calls for political parties to commit to not use or incite violence during this year’s election process. The declaration submitted for parties to sign commits them to not use violence, nor call for violence or voice […]
Ivanishvili wants to reopen Ergneti market
TBILISI, DFWatch – The main opposition bloc in Georgia mobilized 15 000 people Sunday in Gori, the town closest to the capital which was occupied by Russia in the 2008 war. Georgian Dream front man Bidzina Ivanishvili promised to normalize relations with Russia […]
Ivanishvili company’s assets seized, but must pay fine
TBILISI – Authorities in Georgia have issued a 2 million dollar fine to one of opposition financier Bidzina Ivanishvili’s companies, and at the same time seized all its assets. The reason for both decisions is that according to the State Audit Service, […]
Police to provide security at campaign events
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government is to start providing police security during opposition campaign events. The opposition Georgian Dream was Thursday driven out of the village Karaleti by a stone-throwing crowd. 13 people were hospitalised, […]
Media freedom used as weapon in Georgian politics
TBILISI, DFWatch – Do you know the deductive method? Who was Jack London? What is Watergate? These are some of the important questions an unknown woman recently asked a reporter for info9, again and again, apparently in order to keep him from doing […]
Former Milan player Kakhi Kaladze’s bodyguard arrested
TBILISI, DFWatch – Police in Georgia say they have arrested five suspects after violent clashes between government supporters and opposition activists Thursday led to thirteen people being hospitalized. Among them is the bodyguard of former AC Milan […]
Maestro journalists defend TV station’s integrity
TBILISI, DFWatch – Journalists with Maestro demonstrated in front of the old parliament building in Tbilisi Friday. Their demand was that authorities return satellite receivers seized from the TV company a few days ago, so journalists be let to continue their […]
Soldier shot in the head in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Kahketi Information Center Friday morning reported that a 19 year old solider had died from a gunshot wound to the head. Later the same day, the Defense Ministry confirmed the death of Koba Makharashvili in a short statement, which said that […]
Opposition takes measures against harassment of athletes
TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition Georgian Dream movement is campaigning to defend athletes against government harassment, but the sports minister says there is no harassment. Over 130 athletes have signed a petition organized by the opposition […]
Cartu Bank’s entire management fired
TBILISI, DFWatch – After Georgian authorities took over Cartu Bank in a criminal forfeiture process, the interim manager has fired the entire old management. Vladmer Ugulava, who now controls the bank on behalf of the government, yesterday fired both […]
13 in hospital after opposition rally turns into street fight
TBILISI, DFWatch – A street fight broke out Thursday during an opposition meeting in a Georgian village. The scuffle involved both journalists and others being beaten. The opposition Georgian Dream coalition was visiting Karaleti, a village close to the breakaway […]
Opposition movement selects 15 more candidates
TBILISI, DFWatch – Saakashvili’s main competitor Bidzina Ivanishvili has announced 15 majoritarian candidates that will stand in single mandate districts around in the different regions of Georgia. During rallies in May, the Georgian Dream coalition announced 19 […]
Georgian TV station’s ads considered illegal funding
TBILISI, DFWatch – The State Audit Service has intervened in the activity of the TV company Maestro, demanding information about advertising agreements and money transfers with Georgian Dream and Komagi foundation, which is also affiliated with the Georgian Dream […]
Georgian asylum seekers arrested for theft in Germany
TBILISI, DFWatch – German media reports that Georgians are among the suspects in a bust against shop-lifters in the city of Bielefeld in Germany. The suspects are Georgian and Ukrainian. Several people have been convicted. A man of about 29 from Ukraine stole perfume […]
Chlorine leak in Tbilisi claims one victim
TBILISI, DFWatch – A chlorine leak in Tbilisi July 3 has claimed one death as 18 year old Lasha Narimanidze died from poisoning. The leak happened in the evening from tanks in the Tbilisi suburb Lilo. It poisoned up to 80 people. Lasha Narimanidze was in a serious […]
Cartu Group and Progress Bank seized by authorities
TBILISI, DFWatch – The National Enforcement Bureau has asked Tbilisi City Court to transfer the shares of Cartu Group and Progress Bank to a compulsory management regime. The Enforcement Bureau seized all 100 percent shared that Georgian Dream coalition leader Bidzina […]
Second TV station targetted in satellite dish clamp-down
TBILISI, DFWatch – The Government is to seize satellite receivers belonging to the small, independent TV station Maestro under a controversial new party finance regulation. The Prosecetor’s Office suspects that Maestro is distributing satellite receivers to voters […]
Less Georgians want NATO membership
TBILISI, DFWatch – There is a significant drop in support among Georgians for their country being integrated in NATO. In six months, the level of support has fallen from 70 to 62 percent. Also the support for Georgia being integrated with the EU has dropped since […]